Spring practice is a time for optimism and fresh starts, but for two high-profile transfers, the 2026 season has hit an early and significant snag. Alabama wide receiver Noah Rogers and Iowa State safety Braden Awls, both expected to be immediate impact players for their new schools, have suffered serious injuries that will sideline them for the foreseeable future.

The news is a tough blow for Alabama's offense, which is looking to reload its receiving corps. Noah Rogers, a transfer from NC State, went down with a left leg injury during the Crimson Tide's A-Day scrimmage. While Coach Kalen DeBoer has avoided a specific timeline, he indicated the injury will extend "into the season a little bit." Rogers, who posted 33 catches for 441 yards last year, was seen as a crucial piece to help replace the production of departed stars Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton.

Meanwhile, in Ames, the situation is even more definitive. Iowa State's new head coach, Jimmy Rogers, announced that safety Braden Awls has torn his ACL and will miss the entire 2026 season. The injury occurred in what the coach described as a routine practice play. Awls, a first-team All-MAC selection at Toledo last year, was set to be a defensive cornerstone for the Cyclones, bringing a proven track record of playmaking—he led the Rockets with five interceptions in 2025.

These injuries underscore the brutal, unpredictable nature of football, even in practice. For Alabama, the pressure now increases on players like Ryan Williams to step up. For Iowa State, a major piece of their defensive rebuild is suddenly gone. Both programs will have to dig deep into their depth charts as they adjust their plans for the fall.